"I rather think Cousin Ronald did," answered the captain; "but I don't intend to go to the deck to find him, or answer his call to it, while he sits here." "No; what business has he to treat you so?" said a voice that sounded like a woman's. "He ought to be glad to see you sit down and take a rest occasionally." "So he is," said Cousin Ronald, speaking in his natural tone and manner. "He is always glad to have such busy folks take a bit o' rest." "But please don't you take a rest yet, Cousin Ronald; we want you to make some more fun for us first--if you're not too tired," said Ned, in coaxing tones. "I am more than willing, laddie," returned the old gentleman pleasantly, "for fun is oft-times beneficial, particularly to little chaps such as you." "I am bigger than I used to be," said Ned, "but I like fun quite as well as I ever did." "Very strange," said Lucilla, "very strange that a grave old man such as you should care for fun." "Yes, but my sister Lu likes it, and she's older--a great deal older than I am," returned the little fellow, looking up into her face with eyes that sparkled with fun. At that she laughed and gave him a kiss. "Yes, I am a great deal older than you, and so you ought to treat me with great respect," she said. "Ought I, papa?" he asked, turning to their father. "It would be quite well to do so, if you want the reputation of being a little gentleman," replied the captain, regarding his little son with a smile of amusement. But at that instant there came a sound as of a shrill whistle overhead, followed by a shout in stentorian tones: "Hello! look out there! Ship ahoy! Do you mean to run into us? If we get foul of each other somebody may be sent to Davy Jones' locker." Everybody started, and the captain rose to his feet, a look of anxiety coming over his face. But Cousin Ronald gave him a roguish look. "I wouldn't mind it, captain," he said. "It's only a false alarm. I doubt if there is any vessel near us." The captain reseated himself, while Grace exclaimed with a sigh of relief, "Oh, I am so glad it was but a false alarm! A collision would be so dreadful, either to us or to the people on the other vessel, and maybe to both." "Oh, it was just you, was it, Cousin Ronald?" laughed Ned. "Please do some more." At that instant there was a loud squeak, as of a mouse that seemed to be on his own shoulder, and he started to his feet with a loud scream: "Oh, take it off, papa! Quick, quick!" Everybody laughed; and Lucilla said teasingly, "I'm afraid you are not fit to be a soldier yet, Neddie boy." "Maybe I will be by the time I'm tall enough," he returned rather shamefacedly. "Yes, son, I believe you will," said his father. "I don't expect a son of mine to grow up to be a coward." "I might have known it was Cousin Ronald, and not a real mouse, on my shoulder," remarked the little fellow with a mortified air; "but I didn't think just the first minute."